Whitley's Vase Triumph

A powerful header early in extra time from accountant Ian Chandler was enough to send the F.A. Carlsberg Vase north with winners Whitley Bay as they beat Essex opponents Tiptree United 1-0 at Villa Park.

Tiptree started this game as underdogs, but it was the Essex boys who came out of the traps quickest as their number seven Steve Wareham probed from the right looking to create the early initiative.

With ten minutes gone, Wareham latched on to a long through ball wide on the right but was felled as attempted to advance past Marc Walmsley running back to cover. From the resulting Steve Daly free-kick, the figure of Colin Wall arrived at the back post, but his header was well wide of the target.

Not to be out done though, Whitley then began to impose themselves, but the Tiptree defence held strong. Then on 15 minutes Michael Fenwick's hard work took him past a grounded Phil Battell in the left hand corner of the Jam-makers box. Tiptree managed to clear the initial danger, but only managed to get the ball as far as Jon Sunderland on the right who sent a first time cross back towards the unmarked Fenwick. With only the keeper left to beat his header done little more than give Haygreen a go with his new gloves and his chance for early glory was gone.

As the game grew older, the northerners began to take charge and ask the Tiptree defence questions, but they were by no means the weakest link as they, and in particular Wayne Houghton, held strong and continued to keep Whitley at Bay.

The Jam-makers response was to look for the quick route to goal as balls were pumped forward, but the failure to hold the ball up and maintain pressure around the box gave Bay the chance to clear any danger. But as the first half approached it's last five minutes another long ball from Tiptree was not dealt with properly and the ball dropped kindly for Andy Brady but the local Tiptree lad sent his volley over the bar.

With the first forty five coming to an end, Whitley had the best spell of possession in Tiptree territory, but four dangerous crosses were not turned into goals and the teams went in at half time all square.

After the re-start, the game came to life and after only five minutes Whitley should have taken the lead. Bay mounted an attack and as the impressive Marc Walmsley broke into the box, his run was brought to an end illegally and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Up stepped Whitley's Andy Bowes, but his weakly struck shot was stopped well by Haygreen diving to his left. Bay then set up camp in the Tiptree half and three minutes later Bowes almost made amends for his earlier spot kick, but again Haygreen's left hand denied his long-range volley.

The sound of jangling keys was all to apparent now, but Whitley were unable to find the right one to unlock Tiptree as their superior possession, that inevitably took them goalward, was lacking the final killer blow. And on 62 minutes they almost paid the highest price.

Brady sent David Barefield free on the left and the Tiptree forward, obviously more comfortable with the ball at his feet rather than banged towards his head, cut inside Ian Dixon and teased a wonderfully ball to Andrew Aransibia on the back post but his header from only six yards skimmed woefully and unforgivably wide.

That brought about Tiptree’s best period and along with it came two Whitley bookings for fouls on Barefield and Brady. Barefield was now looking a threat as Tiptree's newly found passing style provided him the ammunition to attack, but in tone with the earlier form of both teams the finished product was still not making an appearance.

Extra time continued in similar fashion as both sides were required to work hard for any kind of chance but with five minutes gone of the first period Ian Chandler looked to have put Whitley in the lead.

After an aerial battle outside the Tiptree area the ball fell nicely for the 34 year old who opened up his body, but where Ljungberg and Parlour succeeded last week, Chandler's wonderful curling strike went agonisingly wide and the striker punched the ground in anger.

His despair was soon to turn to joy however, as Whitley capitalised on the only mistake from the Jam-makers defence. The ball came straight out to the right after some over-playing but was sent first time back into the danger zone. As the cross came over, Chandler stepped in front of Phil Battell and powered his header from 10 yards beyond Haygreen giving him no chance, and Bay the vital goal.

As extra time wore on, only more goals from the Northerners looked likely as their inventive passing style earned more than the long-ball tactics Tiptree reverted to after going behind.

In the end Whitley Bay held on to deservedly lift the F.A. Vase for the first time in the club's history and before Chandler the accountant goes back to work on Monday, he'll be adding a winners medal to his collection.

Jamie Bradbury at Villa Park